Woven electroluminescent panel

ABSTRACT

A woven electroluminescent panel having a plurality of parallel insulating fibres, a plurality of parallel electrode fibres woven over and under alternate ones of the insulating fibres and a layer of electroluminescent phosphor overlying the insulating and electrode fibres.

United States Patent 11 1 Robinson Apr. 9, 1974 [54] WOVEN ELECTROLUMINESCENT PANEL 2,928,015 3/1960 Bartels 313/ 108 A 1 1 Inventor: Thomas Robinson, East Aurora. 33333133 131323 32355351111111 1 iii/2; N.Y. 2,838,715 6/1958 Payne 313/108 A [73] Assignee: Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory,

f Primary Examiner-Palmer C. Demeo [22] Filed: Apr. 15, 1970 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Allen J. .laffe [21] Appl. No.: 28,796

57 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 313/108 R 1 [51] hit. Cl. HOSb 33/02 A woven electroluminescent pane] having a plurality [58] Fleld of Search 313/108 A, 108 B; of parallel insulating fibres, a plurality of parallel 1 315/169 169 TV trode fibres woven over and under alternate ones of the insulating fibres and a layer of electroluminescent References Cited phosphor overlying the insulating and electrode fibres.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1960 Davis 313/108 B X 10 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPR 9:914 3.803.437

INVENTOR THOMAS L. ROBINSON.

ATTORNEY WOVEN ELECTROLUMINESCENT PANEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a woven electroluminescent display panel.

Prior electroluminescent light producing devices are known which comprise a plurality of flexible wires or filaments that may be utilized as such or that may be woven into a fabric structure. In all of the known structure of this type, each wire or filament is identical to every other wire or filament in'the finished product. These wires or filaments are the basic building block for the final structure and usually comprise a pair of electrodes with electroluminescent phosphor embedded therebetween and an outer coating to bond the electrodes and phosphor together. Thus, before any weaving of the wires or filaments can take place, the wires or filaments must first be fabricated by combining the electrodes and the electroluminescent phosphor. This procedure is expensive and time consuming. Additionally, an extremely thin structure is not attainable because the basic light producing filament is of a sandwich construction thereby necessitating a greater thickness than would be required with a substantially planar construction. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing, as well as other, disadvantages of prior devices are overcome according to the principles of the present invention which provides a planar woven electroluminescent fabric.

According to the teachings of the present invention, the conducting wires or filament electrodes of the electroluminescent display are in fact fibres that are woven through fixed insulating threads. Thus, the electrodes may form the woof and the insulating threads may form the warp of the woven display panel. Electroluminescent phosphor is simply coated over the entire area of woven fabric. Excitation voltage may be applied through conducting buses attached to the electrode wire or filament ends. I

The panel andmethod of fabricating the same according to the present invention finds specific application-in area illumination as well as lighting of air-home, land-bome and sea-going vehicles. Specific area-type illumination applications includes electroluminescent fabric wall and ceiling coverings and finely woven electroluminescent drapery fabrics.

The fabrication technique of the present invention is compatible with the high volume production machinery of the textile industry, such as automatic fabric and screen looms. As such, the production costs are minimized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the present invention 7 reference should now be had to the following detailed description of the same taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of woven electrolumi- FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, 10 generally depicts the electroluminescent fabric panel, which as illustrated, comprises a plurality of parallel insulating fibres or threads 12 of nylon or any other suitable insulating material. Traversing the insulating threads 12 are a plurality of parallel electrode fibres or wires-l4, each one of which is woven over and under each of the insulating threads 12 to form therewith the fabric electroluminescent panel. As illustrated, the electrode fibres may be substantially perpendicular to the insulating threads. The electrodes 14 may be any suitable conducting fibre or wire such as copper or aluminum. As illustrated, the insulating threads 12 may define the stationary warp of the woven fabric with the electrodes carried back and forth thereacross defining the weft or woof of the woven fabric. Alternatively, the insulating threads can define the stationary warp with the electrodes defining the weft.

Every other electrode 14' has an end 16 that is joined minescent phosphor therebetween to emit radiation in a known manner.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, changes will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A woven and completely flexible electroluminescent display panel, comprising;

a. a plurality of parallel flexible insulating fibres,

b. a plurality of parallel flexible electrode fibres traversing said insulating fibres, each of said electrode fibres or insulating fibres woven over and under alternate ones of the other of said insulating or electrode fibres, and

c. a layer of electroluminescent material overlying and in contacting relation with substantially the total exposed surface area of said electrode and insulating fibres.

2. The woven panel according to claim 1, wherein d. said electrode fibres are substantially perpendicular to said insulating fibres.

3. The woven panel according to claim 1, further comprising;

d. a first terminal electrically connected to alternate ones of said electrode fibres,

e. a second terminal electrically connected to each-of said electrode fibres intermediate said alternate ones thereof.

4. The woven panel according to claim 3, further comprising;

f. a source of voltage connected across said terminals.

S. The woven panel according to claim 1, wherein (1. said electrode fibres comprise the woof or weft of the woven panel, and

e. said insulating fibre comprises the warp thereof.

6. The woven panel according to claim 5, further comprising;

f. a first terminal electrically connected to alternate ones of said electrode fibres,

g. a second terminal electrically connected to each of said electrode fibres intermediate said alternate ones thereof.

7. The woven panel according to claim 6, further comprising;

h. a source of voltage connected across said terminals.

8. The woven panel according to claim 1, wherein (1. said electrode fibres comprise the warp of the woven panel, and e. said insulating fibres comprise the woof or weft 

2. The woven panel according to claim 1, wherein d. said electrode fibres are substantially perpendicular to said insulating fibres.
 3. The woven panel according to claim 1, further comprising; d. a first terminal electrically connected to alternate ones of said electrode fibres, e. a second terminal electrically connected to each of said electrode fibres intermediate said alternate ones thereof.
 4. The woven panel according to claim 3, further comprising; f. a source of voltage connected across said terminals.
 5. The woven panel according to claim 1, wherein d. said electrode fibres comprise the woof or weft of the woven panel, and e. said insulating fibre comprises the warp thereof.
 6. The woven panel according to claim 5, further comprising; f. a first terminal electrically connected to alternate ones of said electrode fibres, g. a second terminal electrically connected to each of said electrode fibres intermediate said alternate ones thereof.
 7. The woven panel according to claim 6, further comprising; h. a source of voltage connected across said terminals.
 8. The woven panel according to claim 1, wherein d. said electrode fibres comprise the warp of the woven panel, and e. said insulating fibres comprise the woof or weft thereof.
 9. The woven panel according to claim 8, further comprising; f. a first terminal electrically connected to alternate ones of said electrode fibres, g. a second terminal electrically connected to each of said electrode fibres intermediate said alternate ones thereof.
 10. The woven panel according to claim 9, further comprising; h. a source of voltage connected across said terminals. 